Recent content by HoosierTrooper

My answer would be no, but some would argue that 0W-20 may use better base stock, others believe 5W-20 may use less pour point depressant or viscosity index improvers so it has less “plastic” additives. Welcome to the weeds, don’t get lost!

I'd say there's no real benefit until the temp is well below -10F, and then 0W-20 only has a small advantage over 5W-20. Heck, at -10F even 15W oil is pumpable. I would agree that recommending 0W-20 could be a way for the manufacturers to get consumers to use synthetic without coming right out...

It's always hotter inside a fully warmed up engine than what the ambient air temperature is, plus the Hemis have heat exchangers to help control the oil temp. Again, you're focusing too much on the winter rating. At operating temp they're still 20 grades., and 20 grades have been in widespread...

My first suggestion would be to quit looking at 0W or 5W oils as being “severe cold weather oil”, that’s not an accurate term. They’re multi- grade oils that can be used under a wide range of driving and weather conditions, and have been around for many, many years. The MRV test for 10W oil is...

You’re never going to see -31F (-35C) either which is what an oil has to be tested at to pass the MRV pumping test to qualify as a 5W as I explained above. So, is 5W-20 necessary in Florida where it’s never going to get to -31F?

The author of that mess is completely clueless. The SAE uses two tests to determine an oils winter rating, which is what the W stands for, not "weight". The first test is the cold cranking simulator, CCS, and it measures an oils ability to allow an engine to crank at cold temperatures. The CCS...

What’s weird about the 0W-16 “spec”? It’s a very specialized grade that is only recommended by Toyota for use in their hybrid engine and nothing else. They still recommend traditional grades like 0W-20 in their other vehicles. Actually it’s a remarkable oil that demonstrates what oil companies...

Yes, at least three synthetic blends are available in 0W-20. https://www.castrol.com/en_us/united-states/home/motor-oil-and-fluids/engine-oils/motor-engine-oil-brands/castrol-gtx-brand/castrol-gtx-ultraclean.html#tab_0w-20...

There is no such thing as 0 “weight” oil. The “W” stands for winter and the SAE classifies oil by grade, not weight, such as 20 grade, 30 grade etc. The first number is the winter rating.

There's no real argument for one over the other unless you're starting a vehicle in temperatures around-30F or colder. At those temps the 0W-20 has a slight advantage by being able to resist becoming too thick to be pumped by the oil pump or allowing the engine to turn over. If you look at the...

Exactly.

To be labeled as a 0W the oil has to pass the cold cranking simulator (CCS) test at -35C and the mini-rotary viscometer (MRV) test at -40C, a 5W has to pass the tests at -30C and -35C respectively. Since there is such a small difference in the test temperatures between the two winter ratings...

Well, Mobil says it’s recommended for vehicles that require MS-6395 so I’m not sure if it has actually went through the certification process or not.

Actually M1 EP states it can provide protection for up to 20,000 miles, but I get your point. Probably the best off the shelf 20 grade oil available. https://www.mobil.com/en/lubricants/for-personal-vehicles/our-products/products/mobil-1-extended-performance-0w-20/

That was true years ago when oils were built primarily out of Group I and/or Group II base stocks that needed high treat rates of viscosity index improvers in order to meet the intended viscosity range. The VII's are what sheared and broke down. Modern synthetic 0W-XX oils are made with Group...